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blueLudebar — Kitty Hawk
Published: 2013-06-19 23:23:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 1846; Favourites: 82; Downloads: 0
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Description
MORE AIRPLANES.LCAD’s illustration department was invited to make art for a Macy’s event with the theme of “American Icons”. Here’s my piece, inspired by the Wright Brothers and the dream of flight.
Funny/awful story about this painting:
The event invitation came during finals week, and after six other projects, there was one night left to do this one. 3 AM the night before this was due, I was a nervous wreck. I'd slept five hours over the past two days, I wanted so much to give up and rest. The wonderful ~FateLikesTeal talked me out of that, but finishing on time seemed impossible: with a messy thumbnail and no color scheme, I was painting without a plan. Worse, without any willpower.
While struggling to get the background colors right, I spilled my coffee all over the carpet, mopped it up, then, furious, smeared the coffee-soaked paper towels on the illustration board. Doing that? Made a workable sunrise color transition.
Aaaand after that, the rest of the painting came together.
AS AWESOME AS THAT WAS I never want to do that again...be kind to yourself everyone, don't try to pull off miracles when you're 75% coffee and 0% sleep.
28 x 22 in., gouache.
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Comments: 22
That is the best mistake-turned-frustration-turned-working piece story I've heard yet.
Love the colors, especially that touch of gold on the field. There's such a wonderfully nostalgic feeling to this piece, too. Your love of planes and flight really shows through in your work!
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Ahaha, it was the worst experience ever, but it sure does take the cake as a story. :"D
I really do love planes, glad this does 'em justice. Thanks!
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Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh, ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh this is so absolutely gorgeous, and for what circumstances you did his under, really amazing~!! Love the sunset lighting, my gosh, and just, however the coffee worked its magic I don't know, but the sky looks amazing~ <3
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Awhaha thank you, I'm really glad you think so. Wonder if I'll ever paint a sky with such a nice transition again. I guess this time I know how...smear it like crazy!
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yes... MOAR AIRPLANES. i require ALL the airplanes.
whilst the original flight took place on a beach in North Carolina (i think), I would love to have seen people's reactions when the Wright's took their newfangled invention around the world to show the people. I think this showcases that idea a little bit, with nice little nod to the previous form of flight, namely wind-riding, with the little kite there, and the clothes being blown in the wind.
I saw the original Wright Flyer in a museum in Washington DC... very frail and yet a deceptively elegant machine.... quite fitting for the ancestor of all powered aeroplanes I think. A nice reminder of days gone by where a little ingenuity, a bit of hard work and an insane amount of gumption could change the world.
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Yes, I think the actual beach site was in Kill Devil Hills? Kitty Hawk was just the nearest town, but it makes for such a good title, haha. Ah you sure know your stuff, the kite was indeed a nod to the small baby steps leading up to flying mechanisms.
SO JEALOUS. Air & Space Museum, right? I visited ages ago, on a band trip, but I don't remember seeing the Flyer--maybe it was being restored or something. Ahh it's wonderful that it's been preserved so long, I hope I can see it someday. Even in the photos, there's something elegant about it, almost surreal-looking in the plain-looking hills with the small figures of men in coats chasing after it.
Heh, I think those same things can still make the world go 'round. Just gotta keep searching for new ways to fly. ;]
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yeah, the Air Space Museum in central DC...it has it's own special exhibit.
I also like going to the Air Space museum annex just outside of DC... they have some seriously awesome flying machines there (including the Space Shuttle Discovery)
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Ahh, so that's where it ended up. Geez, I gotta get myself to the East Coast.
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well, the Discovery is in DC, but the Atlantis is in Florida and the Endeavour is at the California Science Centre in LA. I'd like to see all of them, but for now I must content myself with having just seen Discovery. ^^
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Totally impressed by how much you know about aircraft haha. Come back someday and do a space shuttle pilgrimage.
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It's one of my lesser known nerd-qualities. :q
Ha ha, that would be sweet.
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I felt tense and uncomfortable while reading your little story. I know exactly the way that feels and the memory of it is horrific. Congratulations on finishing, however. You pulled it off beautifully and the piece really did come together very nicely.
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Ah it's really a terrible feeling, sorry to make you relive it!
Thanks so much. <3
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This is gorgeous! You're always making me think of different things. This one reminds me of those old American adverts from like... the 50s, I think? The ones you'd see painted onto tin boards. I don't know if you know what I'm talking about, but I mean it as a compliment!
But anyway, this is beautiful, and so full of motion- you've really captured the feel of the wind, and I love how much colour you've put into the sky.
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AH yes--I have something like one of those, it looks like this ! It's one of my favorite antique store finds, maybe some of its vintage look seeped into this haha. I'm glad if it did, though. And thanks so much...your comments are so thoughtful, I really appreciate it. ;;
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Yes, that link picture was just the kind of thing I meant! I love those. And no problem for the comments (I'm good at talking 
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Hah, might just have to start hunting more of these down. Gotta love the whole vintage travel poster look.
Aw, well, it's a pleasure reading your thoughts on 'em!
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